Adafruit
Adafruit PCM5100 I2S DAC with Line Level Output - 100dB SNR
· MPN: ADA6251
The Adafruit PCM5100 I2S DAC converts digital I2S audio into clean, high-quality stereo line-level output through a 3.5mm jack. With 100dB signal-to-noise ra...
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The Adafruit PCM5100 I2S DAC converts digital I2S audio into clean, high-quality stereo line-level output through a 3.5mm jack. With 100dB signal-to-noise ratio and no MCLK or I2C configuration required, simply pipe I2S data in and get great-sounding analogue audio out.
The PCM5100 accepts 16, 24, or 32-bit audio and automatically determines the correct format from the WSEL/BCLK ratio. It generates its own master clock internally from the bit clock, so no MCLK connection is needed (though an optional MCLK input is available). Audio output is line-level, centred on ground and not AC-coupled — suitable for amplifiers and powered speakers with 1K ohm or greater input impedance.
Key Features
- 100dB SNR / Dynamic Range – Clean stereo audio output from the PCM5100 chip
- I2S Input – Just BCLK, WSEL, and DIN (3.3V logic) — no MCLK or I2C configuration needed
- 16/24/32-bit Audio – Automatically detects bit depth from clock ratio
- 3.5mm Line-Level Output – Plus breakout pads for direct wiring
- 3–5V Power – Wide supply voltage range
- I2S or Left-Justified – Toggle the Format pin to switch modes
- Configurable Options – Filter mode (normal/low-latency), mute, and 44.1kHz de-emphasis via breakout pads
Ideal For
- Adding high-quality audio output to I2S-capable microcontrollers and SBCs
- WAV and MP3 playback projects needing clean stereo DAC output
- Audio prototyping on breadboards with the included header
- Driving powered speakers or amplifier inputs from digital audio sources
Package Contents
- 1× PCM5100 I2S Stereo DAC Breakout
- 1× Header strip for breadboard use
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- DAC
- A digital-to-analogue converter turns numbers from the microcontroller into a real analogue voltage. It matters if you want to generate simple waveforms, audio-style signals, or variable control voltages rather than just on/off outputs.
- DIN
- As a pin label, DIN stands for 'data in', the input through which a device receives serial data from a controller, as found on SPI displays, LED drivers and other serial modules. DIN can also refer to the German standards body of that name, as in a round multi-pin DIN connector or DIN-rail mounting.
- dynamic range
- Dynamic range describes how wide a span of values a sensor can measure, from very low to very high. For a light sensor, a wide dynamic range means it can work in dim indoor settings as well as bright sunlight without changing hardware.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- I2S
- I2S is a digital audio interface used to send sound data between chips, such as from a microcontroller to an audio amplifier or DAC. It matters if your project needs cleaner digital audio output than a basic buzzer or PWM signal can provide.
- Impedance
- Impedance is the total opposition a component or circuit presents to alternating current, measured in ohms, combining resistance with frequency-dependent reactance. It appears in many contexts, such as matching a speaker's impedance (for example 4 ohm or 8 ohm) to an amplifier or the input and output impedance of signal circuits, and a correct match helps avoid weak signals, distortion or damage.
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